John D. Petrin

Greenfield, Massachusetts
John D. Petrin, 67, of Warner Street, died peacefully on Thursday evening, February 4, 2016 at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA, following a period of declining health.
He was born in Greenfield, MA on March 30, 1948 to Rosario and Elizabeth (Hanley) Petrin and attended the former Holy Trinity Parochial School and Greenfield Public Schools. He was a graduate of GHS in the Class of 1966.  He furthered his education by attending Wentworth Institute, Boston, MA and graduated in the Class of 1968 with an A.S. in Nuclear Engineering.
John enlisted in the USN in December of 1968, serving aboard various nuclear ships and submarines during Vietnam and was honorably discharged in December of 1972.  Upon his return to civilian life, he accepted a position with the United States Postal Service, working over 30 years (most recently at the bulk mail facility in Springfield, MA) where he served as the president of the APWU (American Postal Workers Union) Local # 497. He served over 20 years in the Navy Reserves.
He enjoyed following college football, Boston area sports teams, ice hockey, in particular baseball and was a devoted Red Sox fan.  He enjoyed reading daily newspapers, cross word puzzles, chess, tennis and spirited discussions of politics.  He also enjoyed traveling to his favorite destinations that included Virginia Beach, New Orleans and Cape Hatteras, NC.  His children will long remember, with affection and humor, the family cross country trip to Las Vegas, NV which could be best described as a Chevy Chase movie. He was a “foodie” who enjoyed a good meal - none more than the cooking of his wife, Sandy. Most of all, he cherished time spent with his wife and family and that of his three granddaughters. 
He married the former Sandra A. Smith, on May 19, 1973 in Blessed Sacrament Church, Greenfield, MA and they celebrated 41 years of marriage together prior to her passing in December of 2014.  John is lovingly remembered by his children: Jamie R. Petrin and his wife Molly of Johnstown, NY; Jeffery T. Petrin of Greenfield, MA and Amanda E. Pettit and her husband Brian of New York. Additionally, he leaves his three adoring granddaughters to cherish his memory: Kloe, Kayley and Kenzy.  John is also remembered by his siblings: Lawrence “Larry” Petrin and his wife Jackie of Greenfield, MA; Joan McCarthy of Greenfield, MA and Diane “Didi” Foley and her husband Jim of Greenfield, MA.  Additionally, there are several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews who remember him with affection.  He was also predeceased by his brother David in 1992 and by his parents Rosario and Elizabeth Petrin.
Services in celebration of John’s life will be observed on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00AM at Blessed Sacrament Church, 221 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA.  Rites of committal will follow in the Calvary Cemetery, Greenfield, MA.  Guests are asked to convene directly at the church location on Wednesday morning prior to the funeral mass at 9:45AM. The Petrin family will receive guests on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 from 4:00PM until 6:00PM from the McCarthy Funeral Homes, 36 Bank Row, Greenfield, MA
Expressions of affection in the form of a charitable gift in John’s memory are suggested in lieu of flowers to, the David M. Petrin Scholarship Fund, in C/O Peoples United Bank, 45 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA  01301. 

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